The research was carried out jointly with the «State Research Institute of Civil Aviation» branch of FSUE «Institute of Air Navigation» and OOO «Firma «NITA» (Firma NITA LLC).

At the meeting of the FSUE «State ATM Corporation» Board for reviewing the deliverables, Vladimir Solomentsev, Deputy CEO of Azimut JSC, presented completed research deliverables aimed at implementing a digital messaging service between ATC controllers and the aircraft crew in continental airspace.

Currently, the ATC controller and the aircraft crew interact using voice radio communication. All messages, instructions, and controller clearances are transmitted by voice using analog radio channels.

The world has already accumulated experience in using digital communication to exchange formalized messages between air traffic controllers and pilots in accordance with ICAO standards. This technology is called «controller-pilot data link communications» (CPDLC).

The main advantages of using the technology are:

- saving time and reducing the workload of ATC controllers and flight crew;

- unloading the channel of voice radiotelephone communication in areas with high air traffic intensity;

- shortening of mutual understanding between the flight crew and the ATS unit, the elimination of non-standard phraseology, of problems with regional accents and of the pronunciation of speech information;

- the technology prevents from «overlays» when several radio transmitters are working simultaneously.

All this is ultimately aimed at increasing the capacity of the airspace and ensuring an acceptable level of flight safety.

As a result of the research carried out, the following deliverables were obtained:

- a list of services in the interests of ATS provided to users of the airspace of the Russian Federation when air traffic in continental airspace is controlled by using VDL2/ACARS CPDLC.

- a list and composition of messages;

- requirements for the human-machine interface of ATC controller working positions in the ATC Automated Systems;

- requirements for the performance of the CPDLC systems;

- «Road map» for CPDLC technology implementation stages in the Russian Federation;

- proposals for the infrastructure of technical means necessary to implement the CPDLC technology.

- proposals for improving the regulatory basis governing the implementation and use of VDL2/ACARS air-ground data links.

During the research, was carried out a controller assessment of the use of the CPDLC procedures implemented in the Galaxy ATC Automated System (Azimut JSC and Alpha ATC Automated System (OOO «Firma «NITA» (Firma NITA LLC).

Air traffic controllers of the «Aeronavigatsiya Severo-Zapada» (Air navigation of the North-West) branch of FSUE «State ATM Corporation», as well as representatives of the General Directorate and the «State Research Institute of Civil Aviation» branch of FSUE «Institute of Air Navigation» were involved in the controller assessment process.

The participants of the testing noted the relevance of implementing the new technology, made recommendations and suggestions for improving the human-machine interface, as well as for expanding the use of digital communications for other services, including the delivery of meteorological information to the aircraft.

Based on the research deliverables, the branches of Moscow ATM Centre and of «Aeronavigatsiya Severo-Zapada» (Air navigation of the North-West) were identified as priority implementation regions.

The research deliverables provide the basis for the implementation of CPDLC using the VDL2/ACARS data links for air traffic control services in the continental airspace of the Russian Federation.

Azimut JSC expresses its gratitude to the employees of the «State Research Institute of Civil Aviation» branch of FSUE «Institute of Air Navigation», «NITA» (Firma NITA LLC), and to FSUE «State ATM for their meaningful work and support in the course of conducting the research.